Finding the Right Spiritual Mentor
Consulting a priest or spiritual elder for advice is a completely acceptable and often beneficial step when you are seeking confirmation that you are living correctly and want to determine the true path in life. The material provides specific recommendations on how to approach such communication. For example, one of the instructions states:"Visit other churches. If your heart suddenly lights up and you see that this priest responds to your secret inner questions, that his perspective resonates with you, then approach him after the service and ask for a detailed confession or conversation. The priest will set a time, and you can come, talk, and decide whether you can ask this priest to be your spiritual mentor. When I say 'take a closer look at the priest, listen to his sermons,' it does not mean that I suggest choosing the most well-behaved, or attractive, or eloquently gifted priest. All priests are equally blessed and possess the divine authority for spiritual guidance." (Source: link txt)This means you should listen carefully to how the priest addresses your concerns and to what extent his worldview resonates with yours. If after the conversation you feel that his advice genuinely helps you determine whether you are living correctly and in which direction to move, you may continue your spiritual communication with that mentor.In addition, another approach emphasizes the importance of personally approaching the priest during confession:"Approach this priest for confession, repent of your sins, and ask the questions that trouble you (just make sure not to waste his time with idle chatter - speak briefly and focus on what is truly important). Depending on whether the priest reacts attentively or indifferently, with involvement or apathy, decide for yourself whether to entrust him with resolving your pressing issues or to limit the interaction to confession and absolution, and then seek another spiritual guide. But if you have entrusted your concerns and received advice and a blessing from him, observe it as though it were received directly from the Lord, and do not bounce from one priest to another hoping to change advice that may not have pleased you. Through all priests, the same Christ acts, and therefore addressing the same question to different priests twice is considered a sin." (Source: link txt)This recommendation emphasizes the need for sincerity in communication and careful attention to how the priest reacts to your questions. If his advice is comprehensive and blessed, it is worth following without whimsically switching spiritual mentors.Thus, the answer to your question is: yes, you can seek advice from a priest or spiritual elder to understand whether you are living correctly and to learn which path to follow in life. The key is to choose the one whose words and approach resonate with your heart, listen to his spiritual guidance, and follow his advice with discernment and sincerity.Supporting citation(s):"Visit other churches. If your heart suddenly lights up and you see that this priest responds to your secret inner questions, that his perspective resonates with you, then approach him after the service and ask for a detailed confession or conversation. [...]" (source: link txt)"Approach this priest for confession, repent of your sins, and ask the questions that trouble you (just make sure not to waste his time with idle chatter - speak briefly and focus on what is truly important). [...]" (source: link txt)